Refrigerating system



y 16, 1929- I P. J. MUENCHEN 1.721312 REFRIGERATING SY STEM Original Filed Oct. 51, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet l A II II IN VE N TOR 7Z5; WM;

ATTORNEY July 16, 1929. p, J MUENCHEN 1,721,312

REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Original Filed Oct. 51,1925 7 sheets-sheet -2 i I I I //V VE IV 70R July 16, 1929. P. .J. MUENCHEN REFRIGERATING SYSTEM 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Oct. 31, 19 25 lIVl/EA/ TOR A TTOR/VE Y W My July 16, 1929. P'. J. MUENCHEN 1,721,

REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Original Filed Oct. 51. 1925 7 sheets-sheet 4 &2: V

. Inn/Enron Br Mme/v57 y 16, 1 r P. J. MUENCHEN 1,721,312

' REFRIGERATING SYSTEM 1 Original Filed Oct. 31, 1925 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOH July 16, 1929. P. .1. M-UENCHEN 1.721312 REFRIGERATING SYSTEM 7 Original Filed Oct. 51, 1925 7 Sheets-Sheet e UUUUUEZJUUUUUfiUU-EHJU mmummfim'mummjipnmmnm 2 fla m July 16, 1929. P. J. MUENCHEN I 3 REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Original Fil ed Oct. 51, 1925 -7 Sheets-Shet 7 W 1 5 N TOR Z0 ATTORNEY 7 Patented July 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER J, MPENCHEN, OF NEW YORK, .N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ARCTIC REFRIGERATION MANUFACTURING 'CORPORA JIJION, F WILMINGTON, DELAWARE,A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

REFRIGERAEING SYSTEM.

Application filed October 31, 1925, Serial No. 65,931. Renewed January 16, 1929.,

My invention relates to refrigeration, and the object is to provide an inexpensive,

eflicient, reliable and automatic system and apparatus for producing cold by means of a liquefied gas such as carbon dioxidefwhich when expanded in a suitable chamber or vessel produces intense cold with formation of snow consisting [of frozen refrigerant. l Vith these ends in view, the invention may be said to consist in the parts, improvements and combinations, hereinafter and more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming part hereof: Fig. lis an elevation, partly schematic, of a form of the invention suitable for domestic refrigerators: l

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 3, through the refrigerating unit seen in Fig. 1. I l

Fig. 3 is ,a vertical section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2 through this refrigerating unit, a portion of which is seen in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, of the expansion chamber or snow vessel;

Fi 5 is a vertical section through a short tubular casing corresponding tothe upper part of Fig. 4.;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an axial section on a larger scale through a multiple nozzle seen in Figs. 5 and 6; I

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a nozzle disc v Fig. 9 is a vertical section through a regulator;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section through another regulator. i Fig. 11 is a horizontal section on the line 1111 of Fig. 9.;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section through another form of expansion chamber showing the remainder ofthe apparatus in elevation;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one of the discs or plates seen in Fig, 12,; I J Fig. 14 is a schematic view, principally in elevation, with portions in section illustrating a system for'chilling air to be circulated through abuilding; and

Fig. 15 is a schematic view: illustrating another form of, the invention, in which the expansion chambers .are'in' the form of radiators.

Figs. 1-11 will first be described.

The part marked 2 represents a flask of liquefied carbon dioxide, from the outlet of which the refrigerant may pass through a flexible copper conduit '3, 3 to a nozzle body 4. The conduit section 3 is a continuation of the conduit 3, the passageway at the point between these sections being automatically controlled by a regulator 5, ina manner which will be described hereinafter.

The nozzle body 4 has a screw-thread '6 enabling it to be screwed tightly into one end of a cylindrical vessel 7 the interior of which constitutes an expansion chamber which becomes filled with intensely cold carbon dioxide snow or ice as the result of the expansion and evaporation of the refrigerant ad mitted through the fine nozzle orifices.

The part 7, instead of being a complete cylindrical vessehinay be a comparatively short tube 7 (Figs. 5 and 6), screw-threaded at its open forward end, at 8, so as to be attached to other forms of expansion chamber bodies 7 (Fig. 12) or 7 (Fig. 15), the part 7 then constituting a tubular vestibule or extension ofthe snow vessel of different form.

The nozzle body 4, which is employed in all of the forms, has a central bore 9 constituting an extension of the bore of the conduit tubing 3, 3. It is important that the supply passage throughout its length, up to the nozzle orifices, be without enlargements, or constrictions followed by enlargements, as that would tend to cause obstruction of the passage by the freezing of the refrigerant. Therefore all connections of the copper tubing 3,3 to pieces of apparatus, or connecare made as shown at 10in Fig. 7.

end a cluster of nozzles 11, preferably though tions effected between lengths. of the tubing,

not necessarily three in number, which are set upon beveled faces of the body, to direct their jets divergently with respect to each other and obliquely toward the encircling wall of the tube 7 or 7 Branch channels 9" of smaller diameter than the bore 9, so that expansion will not occur in these branches behind the nozzle orifices, are drilled obliquely radially in the body to intersect the blind forward end of the-bore '9, and anenlarged' outer recess is counterbored coaxially with v each of these branches, and is threaded internally to receive a screw bushing 11. Each of these bushings confines a thin disc 12 at the bottom of the recess, between gaskets 13.

'The discs 12 are thus held across the passages 9, abruptly reducing the cross-section of the passageway to the minute area of fine chamber.

With a group of. nozzles of this character and general arrangement, a very efiective refrigerating action is secured. The combined orifices give adequate capacity and ma-kepossibl e great economy in the consumption of the refrigerant; and if one oi even two of the nozzles, should become frozen up, the remainder will continue inaction. The expansion of the jets occurs first'in the bores of the individual bushings 11, and then in the interior of the common-enclosure 7 or 7 In this interior there'quickly forms a'plugof the snow-like frozen refrigerant, which eventually fills practically the whole open interior of the vessel 7, 7* or 7.

It is desirable that the perforated nozzle discs 12 be made of material having little atfinity for the frozen refrigerant, so that their holes will not readilybecome closed. Monel metal is advantageous for this reason. In the case of a' metal disc the hole can be drilled with .a very fine drill, and the disc may then be hammered to contract the hole to an even smaller size. Materials other than metal may also be used for the discs. With glass very fine orifices can easily be produced.

A restricted outlet 15 is provided from the expansion chamber, which outlet it is advantageous to place near the inlet nozzle, rather than at a remote part of the chamber- 'Accordingly, the fitting 15 is screwed into an opening in the side of the tubular. part 7 or 7 adjacent the end'of the nozzle. A coupling 16 connectsthe end of aflexible copper tube 17 with said fitting,and a disc 18 perforated with a small hole is held between gaskets at this point to reduce the outlet to the desired fineness.

The outlet or chamber of the snow vessel is connected by the tubing-17 with the inlet 19 of the regulator 5.

. Said regulator is shown as provided with 'a body preferablyformed of three sections 20, 21and 22 screwed together. The lower section 20 having the inlet 19Qis shown as having the form of 'an upright cylinder, the

- chamber of which accommodates the lower exhaust from the expansion part of a spindle 24, and a spring 25which 15 held under compression between a nut 26 on the lower end of the spindle and a shoulder 27 formed by the lower end of the interme-Y diate body section, the spring consequently exerting pressure downward on the spindle and members carried thereby. Y

One of these members is a valve 28 -which is fixed to the spindle and seats upon an annular seat 29 formed in the lower part of the the pressure beneath the valve is free to pass into the upper chamber. Ribs 33 beneath the.

valve, guide the same truly in a bore 34.

From the chamber 32 there is a further expiston valve is raised above the piston bore haust outlet 35, which is continued by means of copper tubing 36 to a regulator 37. The

two regulators function cooperatively; The exhaust from the chamber 32 of the primary regulator is a free exhaust, except when the supplementary regulator 37 acts ,to close it entirely in the mannerwhich will presently be described.

'T he upper portion 38 of the spindle, which I is preferably of smaller diameter than the lower part, slides as a piston through a packing gasket 39 and in a bore 40 formed in the top body section. 22. A transverse bore 41 in this section intersects the bore 40 at right angles, and constitutes a part of'the supply conduit 3, 3. The bore 41 is of the same area as the bore of the copper tubing, and the tubing is connected to the arms 42 of the regulator section 22 by coupling connections 43 designed to create noconstriction, as heretofore explained. x The piston valve 38 is formed with an annular port 44 adapted to register with the cross bore 41 in the lowermost position of the spindle 24, which is determined by the seating of the valve 28. The upper portion of the bore 40 constitutes a lubricant chamber 45 which is filled with glycerin e, a screw lug 46 enabling the lubricant to be replenis ied.

Another escape from the upper exhaust chamber 32 of the regulatoris 1narked 47. T his exit is formed with a chamber which is packed with a collection of hard discs 48 which are perforated with fine holes, alter- 1i ately at the-center and toward the periphery,

so that a diflicultand circuitous course is formed through which the gas can leak only very slowly.

It is advantageous to include in the regulator another valve 49 which seats downwardl' that is to say toward the entrance to the regulato r, against an annular seat 50 in the section' 21 of the regulatorbody, above-or beyond the valve47. This valve has'a sliding- I pistondit on the reduced portion 38 of the spindle, which fit may be further made gastight by the lubricant, and isheld to its seat by an independent spring 51. The function of this valve when employed is to actas a nonreturn valve to prevent any superior back-- pressure occurring at any time from interfering with the functioning of the valve 28.

The pressure of the exhaust gas from the snow Flexible copper tubing 52 is shown leading from the slow escape'47, for a purpose which will bellater described.

While the primary regulator 5 is responsive to exhaust pressure, the supplementary regulator ,37 is a thermal device. Preferably and specifically it is a device in which the cold produced by the refrigerating system is caused to freeze water so as to form an ice plug closing the further exhaust, while a rise Cir in the temperature will result in the melting of the barrier, so that said exhaust is again free. Consequently, the regulator 37 1s mounted in a position where the colddue to the system will ordinarily be below the freezing point of water, or such other liquid or mixture as may be employed in place of water. In Fig. 1 the regulator 37 is shown mounted adjustably by. means of a clip 53 on a bar 54 projecting laterally from the freezing unit 55 of a refrigerator, within the refrigerator.

; enclosure, which is indicated at 56.

The said freezing unit comprises a brine box,.conta1nmg brine 57, and having a recess occupied by ice-drawers 58. The expansion.

chamber or snow vessel 7 is set into the brine box to chill the brine,'and the exhaust tubing is carried in numerous turns through the brine and about the ice-drawers before being conducted outside, in order that the cold of the exhaust gas may also be imparted to the brine. 1 1

The conduit 52 heretofore" referred to as leading from the slow escape of the regulator. 20 is carried through the brine chamber so passes upward into a water reservoir 63; the

upper end of this limb is closed or guarded,

and the gas is permitted to escape laterally in the upper part of the reservoir, above the *water body 6, through openings 64. A. perforated plate 65 may be provided across the reservoir above the body of water and below the openings 64, to keep the water from being expelled from the reservoiras the result of agitation by the outflowing gas.

The limb 60 is surrounded b ber 66, which is connected with an opening in the bottom of the reservoir 63 by members a water cham- 67, 68. The part 68 contains a check-valve 69, i

which permits liquid to pass readily from the reservoir 63 to the chamber 66, but closes automatically against any pressure or flow in the reverse direction. The gas passage of p the limb 60 contains a tapered constriction at 70, andimmediately above this constriction inclined holes 71 are drilled through the wall of the conduit in aniinward and downward direction. These holes permit water to enter the exhaust gas conduit from the chamber 66, which water,-as long as the conduit remains open, is carried around by the gas through the U -tube, anddelivered through the holes- 64, to return to the body of water in the res ervoir. I

The part of this regulator comprising the reservoir 63, the limb 62 and the bottom of the. the U-tube 1s protected by heat (or cold) insulation 72; while the part containing the limb 60 and the water chamber 66 is un-insulated.

The operation of the foregoing parts will now be briefly described.

The refrigerant, on first being. turned on at the tank, flows through the tube 3, the crossbore 41 of the regulator 5, the piston 38 then being in the lowest position in"which the port groove 44 registers with the said bore, through the'tube 3" to the nozzle of the expansion chamber 7. Here the expanding and evaporating refrigerant produces the intense cold, and the chamber becomes more or less filled with the carbon-dioxide snow. As the snow forms in the vessel the flowfof refrigerant is reduced, the expansion chamber being thus partially self-regulating. The exhaust gas passing out through the disc 18 and the line 17 enters the chamber 23 of the regulator. 5, and'its pressure lifts the valve 28 against the resistance ofthe spring 25. This momentarily cuts off the'supply of refrigerant, because of the piston valve being raised so that its port 44 is carried out of communication with the conduit bore 41. When the piston surface of the valve 28 clears the'cooperating piston bore, however, the pressure beneath the valve 28 is quickly'vented past;

the cover valve 49, through the line 36 and the regulator 37','to atmosphere. This permits the valve 28, and with it the spindle 24,

and the piston valve 38 to fall, reopening the 1 supply conduit byreason of the port 44 again registering with the passage 41. This action is continually repeated while the frozen refrigerant builds up in the snow vessel and the temperature of the interior of the refrigerator or other space is being lowered to the desired degree. The action during the period of activity is a pulsating or intermittent one, which I 11nd to be advantageous for economy and efiiciency of operation.

When a desired or predetermined degree of cold has been attained, the water or other liquid, which, has been entering the limb of the regulator 37 and has been carried along by the current of gas and out through the delivery orifices of the terminal limb 62 of the exhaust, freezes in the tapered constriction 70, forming an ice-plug 0, which completely blocks the gas passageway of this exhaust. Thereafter the only escape for the exhaust gas is through the very slow leak provided by the collection of discs 48. This leak is substantially constant, since the greater the pressure seeking escape the more strongly the discs are pressed together and consequently the more ditlicult is it'for the gas to penetrate between their faces.

The practically complete closing of the exhaust would produce a back-pressure through the system which would in itself tend; to stop the supply of refrigerant from the}; source .to the expansion chamber. It is desirable,

however, to positively cut oil the supply, which is accomplished hythe rise of the piston valvev 38. This member no longer rises and falls in such manner as to alternatelycut oti and reopen the supply, but is kept; raised by the pressure beneath the valve 28. This pressure, since it can no longer be freely vented through the exhaust 3G and the regulator 37, leaks only very gradually past the valves 28 and 49 and through the slow escape 47', so that the valve 28, the spindle 24: and the piston ,valve 38 remain virtually in a state of equilibrium, or, at least, such small oscillation as there may be will not reopen the refrigerant-supply passage. During this pemod, the pressure in the regulator 20 is maintained by the gradual melting and evaporation of frozen refrigerant in the expansion chamber.

'Whll the carbon dloxlde snow has largely melted, or when the temperature in the refrigerator or other space has risen for any other reason above a predetermined point,

the ice-plug c melts, there is again a con'1 para' InirFiq. 12 a form of snow-vessel expansion chamberis shown which comprises two heavywalled metal sections 73, 74 clamped together by bolts 75 through their flanges, against an interposed packing 7 G. The massive unit encloses a shallow cylindrical chamber, whlch is packedwith a stack of large metal discs 77, having I iste r with the interior of. the, cylindrlcal caslarge central openings 'Z8, which regtanks.

ing 7" containing the multiple nozzle which has been described. The frozen refrigerant fills the central cavity and forces its .way between the discs or plates. Refrigerating units of this kind aresuitable' for use in refrigerator cars and elsewhere. 'lhe'othe'r parts of the system are like those which have already "been described.

Fig. 14: illustrates a form of syst'cni cmbmlying the invention designed for cooling the interior of a theatre, church or Ether building, ora cold-storage interior.

A battery of carbon-dioxide tanks 2 are connected with a manifold 80. which is connected with the supply line 3, 3, through the regulator 5, which has been described. The

.line 2} is connected with the nozzle of an expansion chamber 7, like the iwssel lmaring the same reference numeral which has al-' ready been described except that it maybe larger and longer in proportion. This vessel is inside a brine vessel 81. The exhaust line 17 from the chamber 7 may be led to the noz-' zleof another expansion chamber 7 in a sec- .ond brine chamber 81'. From such second expansion chamber an exhaust line 17" leads to the regulator 5, this regulator being connected with the supplementary regulator 37 placed in a proper location, the regulators acting in the manner which has been set forth.

The interiors of the brine chan'lbers are connected at 82, and piping 83 connects them with chilling radiators 84. A pump 85 circulates the brine through the brine chamhers in contact with the snow vessels and through the radiators. This apparatus is contained in a cold box or room 86, from which cold air is pumped by a blower 87 through suitable ducts and outlets to various parts of the buildin The exhaust linel'i is conducted about the gas tanks 2 for the purpose of cooling them, as the system operates most advantank are 'kept at a temperature of about 68 F. For simplicity this is indicated in the drawing by showinga single turn of the piping about the battery of tanks, but it will be understood that in practice the'piping will be extended in a suflicient numberof coils immediately adjacent or in contact with the In Fig. 15, the expansion chambers 7 are themselves in the form of refrigerating radi ators. A nozzle cylinder 7 a is applied to one end of one longitudinal tube of each radiator, and these'ends of the expansion chambers or radiators are connected in series with each other and with the gas tanks 2 by the lines 3*, 17, 17'." From the last cylinder '4', an exhaust line 17 passes to the regulator 5.- ".[t is desirable to also connect the far ends of the several radiator expansion chambers with this exhaust line by exhaust branches 90, containing non-returnyalves 91 which tageously when the contents of the supply open to pressure or flow from the radiators, but close against pressure acting in the reverse direction.

Numerous other forms, embodiments and applications ofv the invention will suggest,

themselves. 'VVhile carbon dioxide is a read' ily available and economical liquefied refrigerant, having the desired properties, the "invention is not necessarily limited to this gas, and others may be employed. The preferred mode .of operation has been described in detail so that the illustrated forms of the invention may be readily understood, but it should be understood that the operation as well as the various matters of construction may be modified without departing from features of essential novelty.

WVhat I claim as new is:

1. Means for producing cold by means of a liquefied gas, Comprising a liquefied gas snow vessel, a nozzle communicating with said vessel and having connection with a source of the liquefied gas,-an exhaust connected with the vessel, a regulator connected with said exhaust and controlling the supply to said nozzle, an exhaust leading from said regulator, and means subject to the cold emanating from said vessel for automatically stopping the latter exhaust with an ice plug.

2. In a system for refrigerating by means of liquefied gas, the combination with'a vessel into which the refrigerant is expanded to form snow, a supply passage, and an exhaust passage, ofvalve means controlling the supply passa e, a primary regulator connected With t e exhaust passage and acted upon by the exhaust pressure to control said valve means, and a supplementary regulator responsive to thermal conditions and operative to close the exhaust passage at a point beyond the primary regulator.

3. In an apparatus for producing cold by means of a liquefied gas, the combination of a liquefied gas snow vessel having a nozzle, a supply passage connected with said nozzle, a piston valve to openand close said passage, an exhaust connected with said vessel, and a regulator connected with said exhaust having a piston relief valve operativelys con- 7 nected-with the aforesaid piston valve.

I 4. In an apparatus for producing cold by means of a liquefied gas, the combination with a liquefied gas snow vessel having a nozzle and an exhaust, and a supply passage connected with said nozzle, of a regulator connec ed with said exhaust having a springloaded piston valve member above the inlet from said exhaust, a valve inthe supply passage actuated by said member,- a further exhaust passage leading from the regulator above said piston relief valve member, and

means, for automatically stopping the latter exhaust passage by an ice plug.

1 .5. an-apparatus for producing cold by means of a liquefied gas, the combination with a liquefied gas snow vessel having a nozzle and an exhaust, and a supply passage connected with said nozzle, of a regulator matically stopping the passage of said further exhaust by an ice plug, and a valve operatively connected with said member and controlling the supply of refrigerant to the I nozzle of the snow vessel. I

6. In a cor'bon-dioxide or like refrigerating system, a regulator comprising a chamber having an inlet from the exhaust of a liquefied gas snow vessel, a spring-loaded piston relief valve member normally closing the chamber above said inlet, a chamber above said member, an outlet from such upper...

chamber, an upper body containing a liquefied gas supply passage for the snow vessel, and a piston bore intersecting said supply passage, and a friction valve operatively connected with said piston relief valve member andworking in said bore, the upper part of said bore being a lubricant reservoir containing a lubricant such as glycerine.

7. In a carbon-dioxide or like refrigerating system, 'a regulator connected'with the ex haust of a liquefied gas snow vessel, said regulator having a spring-loaded piston .relief' valve member, a further exhaustpassage opening from the regulator at the outer side of said valve member, means for automatically stopping the latter exhaust passage by an ice plug, a liquefied gas supply passage for said snow vessel, and a valve operatively connected with said piston relief valve member adapted for cutting off and reopening said supply passage.

. 8. In a carbon-dioxide or like refrigerating system, a liquefied gas snow chamber having a nozzle, an exhaust from said chamber, a

regulator connected with said exhaust, said and adapted for closing andreopening said supply passage. Y

9. In a carbon system, a liquefied gas snow chamber having a nozzle, aniexhaust from said chamber, a

liquefied gas supply passage connected with said nozzle, a regulator connected with said dioxide or like refrigerating nected with said piston relief valve member with said relief valve member and controlling said supply passage, a further exhaust eonneeted with the chamber of the regulator at the opposite side of said relief valve member, and a cover valve in said chamber seating between said relief valve member and said further exhaust.-

10. In a carbon dioxide or like refrigerating system, the combination with a liquefied from said vessel and a ll( uefied "as su l 7 b passage connected with said nozzle, ota regulator connected with sald exhaust, said regulator havm a s. rin -reslstnn 'member adapted to yield to the exhaust pressure and eventually to vent the same,-a valve conneeted with said member and controlling said supply passage, a further exhaust leading from the regulator at the outer side of said member, and means for auton'iatically stopping said further exhaust by an ice plug.

. PETER J. MUENCHEN. 

